Can I access Live View whenever I want?

Yes, using the Blink app with your smartphone, you can access your camera view by tapping the Live View play button. To learn more, visit How to use Live View.

You can access live views from your Blink cameras on Alexa-enabled devices, such as Amazon Echo, Fire TV and Fire Tablet devices. To learn more, visit the Alexa Smart Home page.

Note: If your Video Doorbell is in Event Response mode, Live View is only available by tapping the motion notification for a doorbell press or motion event within 60 seconds of receiving the notification on your mobile device. With a Sync Module, these features are available anytime on demand. Learn more about adding a Sync Module to a system.

Blink Subscription Plans enable many premium features, including Extended Live View, exclusively for Blink Wired Floodlight and Mini cameras! This feature provides images and sound directly from a camera to the Blink app, up to 90 minutes at a time without user intervention. In addition, you can view regular Live View sessions up to five minutes without tapping Continue. To learn more, visit Extended Live View.

Note: Extended Live Views cannot be saved.

Do Blink cameras support Two-Way Audio?

Yes, the Mini 2, Mini, Outdoor 4, Wired Floodlight, Video Doorbell, Outdoor and Indoor (3rd Gen) and XT2 cameras have Two-Way Audio. 

From the Blink app, open a Live View through your mobile device to speak and hear through the camera speaker and microphone. To learn more, visit Two-Way Audio.

Note: If your Video Doorbell is in Event Response mode, Two-Way Audio is only available by tapping the motion notification for a doorbell press or motion event within 60 seconds of receiving the notification on your mobile device. With a Sync Module, these features are available anytime on demand. Learn more about adding a Sync Module to a system.

Do Blink cameras offer Person Detection?

Yes, with a Blink Subscription Plan, the Mini 2, Outdoor 4 and Wired Floodlight camera have embedded computer vision, which can detect the difference between people and an object. When a person is detected, you’ll receive a Person Detection alert in the Blink app. For example, if your garden camera name is ‘Garden’, your alert will display as ‘There is a person in your Garden’.

To learn more, visit Using Person Detection.

Can Blink cameras send motion notifications to my mobile device?

Yes, once your Blink system is armed and Motion Detection is on, motion notifications are sent to your mobile device when your Blink camera detects a motion event. To learn more, visit Arming and Disarming Your Blink System.

What are my video storage options?

Cloud Storage with a Blink Subscription Plan
With a Blink Subscription Plan, all motion detection and Live View recordings are stored in the cloud. Clips stay viewable until they’re manually deleted or the clip reaches its auto-deletion time (up to 60 days US/CA or 30 days in the EU/UK). With a Blink Subscription Plan, you also have unlimited cloud video recording. To learn more, visit the Subscriptions FAQ.

Local Storage with a Sync Module 2
Local Storage is an optional feature that stores motion clips to a compatible USB drive for eligible Blink devices. Once your Sync Module 2 has been added to your system with an inserted USB drive, your camera’s motion clips are stored on the connected USB drive. To learn more, visit Local Storage with a Sync Module 2. 

Note: For users with a Blink Subscription Plan or trial, Clip Backup becomes automatically available and saves a daily backup of your Cloud Storage clips to the inserted USB drive once every 24 hours with a Sync Module 2. To learn more, visit the Subscriptions FAQ.

What is a Blink system?

A system is a compilation of one or more cameras. When multiple cameras are added to the same system, they are linked together so that when you arm your system, all of the cameras in that system will arm at the same time.

• A Blink system can contain up to ten different cameras and one Sync Module. 
• Wired Floodlight Cameras, Mini cameras, Video Doorbells and Sync Modules can all create their own systems. 
• When multiple cameras belong to the same system, you can arm or disarm a system, which affects all cameras in that system at the same time.

Note: Battery-powered cameras can only be added to a system with a Sync Module. Learn more about adding a Sync Module system.

What is required for a Blink system?

To set up your devices and manage your cameras in the Blink app, the following is required.

General requirements

• A Blink account and current version of the Blink app.
• A valid email to receive time-limited account verification codes, password reset links and communication about any account or camera issues.
• 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network with a minimum of 2 Mbps per Blink device.
• One of the following mobile devices:
  • iPhone or iPad with iOS 14 or higher. Learn how to update your iOS device.
  • Android phone or tablet with Android 6 or higher. Learn how to update your Android device.
  • Fire Tablet with Fire OS 7 or higher. Learn how to update your Fire Tablet.

How many devices can I add to a Blink system?

A Blink system can contain up to ten different cameras and one Sync Module, and you can have multiple systems in one Blink account.

Note: Battery-powered cameras can only be added to a system with a Sync Module. Learn more about adding a Sync Module system.

Can I have more than one system in my account?

You can have multiple systems in one Blink account. The Blink app allows you to manage multiple systems and their connected Blink devices from a single account. 

For example, you can arm and disarm cameras in one system, and arm and disarm cameras in a second system. To learn more, visit Can I have multiple Blink Systems in one Blink account?

Note: A single camera cannot belong to multiple systems or accounts.

Do Blink cameras require Wi-Fi?

Yes, Blink cameras require a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi internet connection. 

Do Blink cameras work with Alexa?

Yes, if you download the Blink SmartHome Skill, you can monitor and control your Blink system with hands-free voice commands through compatible Alexa-enabled products. For a list of compatible Alexa devices, visit the Alexa FAQ.

What is a Blink Subscription Plan?

Blink’s optional Subscription Plans enable exciting features including:

• Unlimited cloud video recording
• Unlimited Cloud Storage (60 days US/CA or 30 days in the EU/UK)
• Live View recording
• Extended Live View (Wired Floodlight and Mini cameras)
• Photo Capture (Mini 2, Outdoor 4, Video Doorbell and Indoor and Outdoor (3rd Gen) cameras) 
• Person Detection (Mini 2, Outdoor 4 and Wired Floodlight cameras)

Learn more about Blink Subscription Plans.

How do Blink cameras detect motion?

Blink cameras use either Passive Infrared (PIR) or Pixel Difference Analysis (PDA) to detect motion. Both technologies provide similar motion detection. Blink cameras detect motion best from about 7 to 19 feet (2–6 m) away and can respond to motion at 30 feet (9 m). Other factors affect which motion is detected, such as camera placement, object size and temperature. 

Motion Detection using Passive Infrared (PIR) sensors
The Mini 2, Outdoor 4, Wired Floodlight, Outdoor and Indoor (3rd Gen), Indoor (1st Gen), XT2 and XT use Passive Infrared sensors.

Motion Detection using Pixel Difference Analysis (PDA)
The Mini uses Pixel Difference Analysis (PDA), which compares every video frame to the next one, looking for a certain amount of difference. 

To learn more, visit Understanding Motion Detection.

Note: Blink cameras weren’t designed to function correctly while viewing through glass. Motion detection and night-time image quality can be impacted; therefore, we don’t recommend placing your camera to view through glass.

What kind of batteries do Blink cameras use? 

Blink cameras are powered by and shipped with size AA 1.5-volt lithium non-rechargeable batteries. When it’s time to replace them, we recommend using Energizer Ultimate size AA 1.5-volt lithium non-rechargeable batteries or an equivalent.

How long do batteries last?

How are Blink cameras powered?

What is a Sync Module?

The Sync Module is the system hub that relays commands and network details to Blink cameras in the system it shares. To learn more, visit the Sync Module FAQ.

Do I need a Sync Module?
Yes, a Sync Module is required if you have an Outdoor 4, Outdoor and Indoor (3rd Gen), XT, XT2 and Indoor (1st Gen).

A Sync Module is optional if you have a Mini, Wired Floodlight camera or Video Doorbell. When one of these cameras connects to a Sync Module, they can share the same system with a group of cameras (up to 10) or store clips locally when the Sync Module has a recognised USB drive inserted. To learn more, visit Local Storage. 

When a Video Doorbell and Sync Module share the same system, Live View and Two-Way Audio are available anytime on demand. Learn more about adding a Sync Module system.

Are Blink cameras eligible for home insurance discounts?

No, Blink systems are currently not eligible for home insurance discounts. Each home insurance company has specific discount requirements for security cameras. In most cases, security cameras need to be wired and have a monitored security alarm system.

Does Blink work with IFTTT?

Yes, Blink products work with IFTTT. To learn more about Blink and IFTTT, visit How Do I Use IFTTT Applets with Blink? ‍

Will my battery-powered camera work during a power outage?

No, battery-powered cameras require a connection to a Sync Module and Wi-Fi that are receiving power. Once power is restored and your camera is online, the Outdoor 4, Video Doorbell and Outdoor and Indoor (3rd Gen) cameras will attempt to record the first motion event after a power loss and upload it to the cloud.